Select Car Leasing Stadium

The Select Car Leasing Stadium, opened in 1998 as the Madejski Stadium, was built to replace Reading's cramped Elm Park ground, where the club had played for over a century. Named after Sir John Madejski, the local businessman, publisher, and chairman who financed its construction, the stadium represented a quantum leap forward for a club that had long been constrained by the limitations of its former home. The move to a modern, purpose-built arena on the outskirts of Reading signalled the start of a new era.

With a capacity of 24,161, the stadium was designed to accommodate the growth that Reading's leadership anticipated. That faith was vindicated spectacularly during the mid-2000s, when the club enjoyed a golden period under Steve Coppell's management. The 2005-06 Championship-winning season, during which Reading accumulated a record 106 points, followed by two seasons in the Premier League, filled the stadium regularly and created an atmosphere that the old Elm Park could never have generated.

The stadium has carried several commercial names since Madejski's naming rights expired, reflecting the financial realities of modern football. Despite these rebranding exercises, the ground remains commonly referred to as the Madejski Stadium or simply the Mad Stad by supporters. The venue has also hosted international rugby matches and was used as a training base during the 2015 Rugby World Cup, demonstrating its versatility as a sporting venue.

Reading's recent decline through the divisions, compounded by significant financial difficulties and ownership controversies, has seen the stadium fall somewhat short of its original promise. The large capacity is rarely tested at League One level, and the ground can feel cavernous when attendances are modest. Nevertheless, the Select Car Leasing Stadium remains a high-quality venue that is more than capable of hosting football at a much higher level, and supporters hope that better times will once again see it filled to capacity.